ORQUIDEAS: COMBATING ASTHMA

NOELIA, TINA, LAURA HUNTER COLLEGE

WHAT IS ASTHMA?

• ASTHMA IS INFLAMATION AND NARROWING OF THE AIR WAYS (Bronchial Tubes)

COMMON ASTHMA TRIGGERS

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Peak Flow Examination

• Pulmonary Function Tests

• Methacholine Provocation Test

• Allergy Tests

• Asthma Control Test

ASTHMA MEDICATIONS

•Quick acting inhaler•Lung-acting inhaler•Steroid inhaler•Epinephrine (shot)•Cromolyn sodium inhaler

Pills:• Zafirlukast, Zileuton and Montelukas•Theophylline•Corticosteroids( also injection)

REALITY OF ASTHMA IN THE BRONX

• One of the most serious health problems for children in the Bronx.

• Hospitalization rates are 1000 times higher in the Bronx than in NY as a whole and one of the highest in the nation.

• # 1 reason for school absenteeism. • # 1 reason for emergency room visits.• Proximity of facilities that release toxic

substances into air, water and land.

OUR PROJECT

• Conducted Asthma Survey:In P.S. 48 Joseph R DrakePopulation: 4th Graders

INFORMATIVE MEETINGHeld in conjunction with the American Lung Association

Volunteer for Asthma walk on June 5, 2005

HUNTS POINT - THE BRONX

• Community Development:• Sustainable South Bronx• The Point

WHAT IS BEING DONE?

1. Open Airways for Schools – American Lung Association

2. The Use of Windmill Power –Long Island Power Authority and FPL

3. Government Proposed Solutions:• Bloomberg is planning to pass five City Council bills that will control air pollution from

trucks and busses. • The Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel -underwater tunnel between Brooklyn- New Jersey

• PROS• Improve environment • Eliminate truck trips • Reduce truck emission • Stimulate economy:• Create new jobs• Lower prices of goods• Revival of Brooklyn Ports

• CONS• Band-Aid solution since it will limit truck

traffic from New Jersey and Manhattan to Maspeth, Queens- an area already affected with 24,000 truck trips a day

• Bloomberg no longer approves the initiative

• A lot of Environmental protection bills do not pass since Large energy producers are also big political contributors

FUTURE PROJECTS

• Continue Asthma Surveys of the affected area

• More informative meetings and workshops

• Conduct a Health fair

• Work in conjunction with community based organizations